Television. Cell phones. Facebook. Children. Exhaustion. To-do lists. It goes on and on. How many distractions keep you from connecting with other people? And I mean really connecting. Be honest and think about how often you’ve been on the phone talking to a friend all the while surfing Facebook. When was the last time you looked into somebody else’s eyes and gave them you’re full attention?

It’s hard, I know. It’s almost like we’ve been trained to multitask our entire lives. Schools and jobs are so demanding. And who has ever really taken an honest to goodness vacation? We’re so worried we’re going to miss some big important news flash. So we’ve got our laptop on the table, our cell phone in our pocket and our minds constantly thinking of the next thing to do. But do yourself a favor and pause.

Take a deep breath.

Do you see that person across the room? Your spouse? Your child? Go talk to them, now. Invest 5, 10, 15 minutes, however long, and listen to them. Take note of that little voice in your head that keeps interrupting. You hear it. It’s telling you to check your email. Add cheese to your grocery list. Call your friend to tell her about this cool new item on Etsy. Turn that voice off. Right now it’s just you and that person. And chances are that person, whomever it may be, rarely gets heard.

I can only imagine what it must have been like when the woman who had touched the hem of Jesus’ garment felt.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:42-48 ESV)

For twelve years she was an outcast. Considered unclean and unwelcome. Can’t you imagine how much this timid child of God felt when Jesus singled her out in front of the crowd? Scared at first, wondering if she had done something wrong. But now, here was Jesus proclaiming that her faith had healed her. Such a beautiful scene! She was accepted and loved as she was by her savior in front of everyone! Don’t you just want to run up and hug her!

Who do you know that could use a listening ear and listening eyes? Seek out that person in your life that needs to know that they matter. That they are not a lost cause. Let go of any pride you may be holding on to and go after that loved child of God. Show them the love of Christ and give them your full, one hundred percent, attention. Chances are the Lord can use you both in each others lives. You in their life and them in yours.

Blessings!